by Steve Wishek » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:58 pm
Hello, my name is Steve and I am the one responsible for the trailer in question. I appreciate Andrew letting you know about us, and while they are hard to hear, I/we appreciate all of your comments.
I am not attempting to defend our design or the product. If we missed, we missed, and we will have to accept that. Knowing how we missed is important, so we really do appreciate what folks have to say. Still, I would like to clarify a few things.
Price:
We missed the mark spectacularly on this point. We based our initial number on our costs, but reality dictates that we have to do better. We accept this. Therefore, we recently revised our MSRP to $15,999; this being a starting point from which we are sure our dealers are willing to negotiate.
Features as they affect weight and price:
The weight is certainly driven primarily by construction, the methods of which we selected for reasons that are too long to go into here. However, features also drive weight. So when comparing the product to other campers, things like awnings, air conditioners, tanks, fixtures, heaters, televisions and so on come into play. All of these things are included in our numbers, which is not a normal practice in this business. The same is true with regard to price. Most manufacturers list a base price and weight with many options that drive the cost. We list a single product with everything included in the price and weight.
CCC, Payload, GVWR and Tires:
The weight of the unit is 2860. The GVWR is 3500 lbs. This means that the trailer has a payload of 640 lbs. The CCC is 328 lbs. This is the amount of capacity left after 35 gallons of fresh water @ 8.3 lbs per gallon and 5 gallons of LPG @ 4.2 lbs. per gallon is deducted from the payload. In our experience, most people do not haul 300 gallons of fresh water, but rather, fill up at their destination. Therefore, while we feel the CCC is misleading, it is a federally mandated number.
The axle load is 2400 lbs. dry. The axle capacity could be 3750 lbs, as that is what it is rated for, but it is limited to 3220 lbs, since that is the limit of the tires. This translates to an available payload of 800 lbs, which exceeds the available GVWR. For this reason, we think the tires we utilized were sufficient. Bigger tires would be of no additional value.
In the case of this particular trailer, the GVWR is limited by the coupler to 3500 lbs. We could use a 5000 lb. coupler, and increase the tire capacity to fully utilize the 3750 lb. axle. Is this case we would have a payload of 1,170 lbs. and a CCC of 858 lbs. with a GVWR of well over 4,000 lbs. Even though the trailer is built to handle this capacity, and it would cost virtually nothing to change the hitch coupler, we elected not to do this, as we were concerned that we would scare people off with a GVWR of 4000 plus lbs, when the trailer in fact weighs only 2860 lbs.
As for the trailer being ugly, well, I never met a baby I really thought was cute. I just lied to the parents, and thought it a kindness.
I hope I have not given the wrong impression. I am not trying to justify what we have made. Only explain some of it. Thanks for you comments. I am sure we will hear a few more.
Best regards
Steve
